St. Paul, Minn. (Dec. 21, 2018) –
Jobs for Minnesotans today released the following statement in response to an appeal
filed today by the Minnesota Department of Commerce challenging the approval of
the Certificate of Need for Enbridge’s Line 3 Replacement Project:

“Jobs for Minnesotans stands behind the Minnesota Public Utilities
Commission’s (MPUC) approval of the Line 3 Replacement Project Certificate of
Need and is not surprised by the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s (MDOC)
appeal. The MPUC, appointed by Governor Dayton, has been the lead agency diligently
evaluating the project details throughout the rigorous four-year public input
and environmental review process. The MPUC has consistently ruled against the
MDOC in several critical matters associated with this project. The MPUC just
reaffirmed its unanimous decision on the project’s Certificate of Need as
recently as November. Ultimately, time after time, the Line 3 Replacement
Project has been deemed necessary by the MPUC in the best interest of the
public and the state of Minnesota.

“The project is a critical $2.6 billion dollar investment in Minnesota’s energy infrastructure, replacing an aging pipeline on which the state relies. The project will provide quality jobs to more than 6,500 Minnesota workers during the course of the project, including 2,100 family-sustaining construction jobs. The communities along the route stand to benefit immensely from the approval of this project and it is imperative to the economic welfare of the state that it be allowed to move forward.”s

About Jobs for MinnesotansJobs for Minnesotans, a coalition representing business, labor and communities, supports statewide opportunities for prosperity and middle-class jobs from sustainable natural resource development in Minnesota. The organization is committed to the principle that our state can preserve both job opportunities and the environment for future generations. Jobs for Minnesotans was co-founded in 2012 by the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council representing 55,000 workers and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce representing 2,300 companies and 500,000 employees. For more information, visit jobsforminnesotans.org, follow @JobsforMN on Twitter and find the coalition on Facebook.com/Jobs4MN.